ATTACK ON SERES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22056, 12 March 1935, Page 9

ATTACK ON SERES

STRONG RESISTANCE TOWN'S FALL DELAYED RIVAL ARMIES ENTRENCHED MANY DRAMATIC INCIDENTS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received March 11, 5.5 p.m.) ATHENS, March 11 General Kondylis' "decisive offensive " in Macedonia was begun yesterday morning with a vast semicircular troop movement, the artillery and aircraft combining. The capture of Seres was expected before nightfall, but at midnight General Kondylis reported that his forces could not take the town that day because just before dark they met with strong resistance seven miles from Seres. The general added that he had taken 200 prisoners and five guns. His losses totalled two dead and four wounded. " I shall take Seres on Monday morning," the message stated. "Then I shall push on to Kavalla." Many of the rebels threw down their rifles and fled. The Government fleet bombarded the rebel cruiser Helle at Kavalla, but ceased after an hour's firing for fear of damaging the town.

Government and rebel armies were entrenched on either side of the swollen River Struma, using the trenches first made by the Bulgarians in the Balkan war of 1912. There was four hours of artillery firing last night. Greek territory near Kulata was entirely held by rebels whom frontier guards who had been loyal to the Government until Wednesday have now joined.

Government troops crossed the River Struma. Their advance met with little resistance, the rebels withdrawing with a- few casualties to await an attack on their mountain strongholds. General Kondylis' almost bloodless victory involved a costly and futile expenditure of ammunition. Government airmen dropped 12 5601b. bombs on the Rethymo barracks. The pilots assert that the barracks were destroyed and many rebels killed. M. Venizelos threatens reprisals in Crete if the Venizelists in Athens are ill-treated.

A message from Milan states that General Pfastiras has returned to Cannes.